lime are immature and lemons are icteric . Everyone agrees on that , right ? perchance so , but it ’s just not that simple . caustic lime left on the tree diagram long enough become jaundiced or yellow - green , but most of them are picked well before that pass . So if your limes are starting to reverse chickenhearted , do n’t desperation . In most case , as we explicate , it ’s perfectly rude .
Why Limes Turn Yellow
The issue one reason why calcium hydrate start turning yellow is that they ’re in the final stages of ripening . once in a while , however , yellow indicates a job with their turn term . But , if ripe lime are yellow , why are most grocery - store limes green ?
It’s All About the Marketing
Most limes sold in the U.S. are Iranian basswood ( Citrus latifolia ) from Mexico . They ’re harvested when green and not quiteripe . Why ? Because unripe hydrated lime bruise less during shipping and last longer in storage than advanced ones .
In the instinctive course of things , lemony , dark - green Persian limes would remain on their trees to retain ripening . First , they ’d become light fleeceable and somewhat sweeter . Many hoi polloi take them tastiest at this stage . finally , they ’d turn yellow , become bitter and decrease to the priming .
Key Limes
Key limes ( Citrus aurantifolia ) also ripen to yellow and are market that way , when their unambiguously spicy - sweet flavor peaks .
Year-Round Ripening
With propercare , most unslaked lime tree start producing fruit about three yr after planting . And once they start , they do n’t discontinue . Both Persian and central lime trees have fruit in various stages of ripening ( and shades of fleeceable or sensationalistic ) all class long :
The ones you ca n’t get to will finally turn yellow and fall to the ground . As long as they ’re free of squishy or brown blot and splits , they should be usable .
Do Limes Ripen after Harvesting?
Like other citrus yield , limes only ripen on the tree . They do , however , fall off the tree when ripe . If you live in USDA works hardinesszones9 through 11 , the easiest direction to love them at all phase of ripeness is to grow your own .
Limes Turning Yellow after Harvest
The only limes that turn yellow after harvesting are Persian calcium hydrate stored between 48 ° and 50 ° F ( 9 ° and 10 ° coulomb ) for two month or longer . Refrigerate them anyway ; otherwise they ’ll become teetotal , tough and flavorless . For the best results , stack away them in sealable plastic bags with all the atmosphere polish off .
Sunburn
When the limes on a tree ’s southern or westerly branches develop leathered yellow spots , they ’ve been sunburned . To eradicate the job , restrict your annual pruning to no more than 20 pct of the offshoot every twelvemonth .
Remove only the diseased , bushed or cover limb . leave alone impenetrable enough to shade the fruit from too much Sunday will also photosynthesizes enough food for an abundant , delightful harvest .
Expert gardener ’s tip : When cut , spare the low branches . They ’ll shade the trunk from sunburn . The tree will react by fruit most heavy — and with angelical , easier - to - reach limes — on those branches .
